There is no biblical prohibition against making plans. There is wisdom in planning for the future. Yet, it is foolish to leave the Lord out of our planning for God is the one who holds the future. So, ask for God’s wisdom when making plans. Seek godly counsel. Pray for clarity and follow God’s instruction. And when things don’t go according to plan, don’t get frustrated. Adjust. Be flexible and listen. Perhaps God has a better plan.
This prayer of Jesus found in John 17 should really be called the Lord’s prayer. The prayer that we call the Lord’s Prayer, might better be called the Model prayer because it was given to teach us how to pray. However, the prayer recorded in John 17 gives us an intimate insight as to how Jesus really prayed. In verse 5, we see Christ’s awareness that He was returning to the Father’s presence to share equal glory with Him, the glory which was His even before the world was created. This prayer was offered before Jesus went to the cross, yet He was already looking past it. As Hebrews 12:2 said, we are to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Peace is not a place, but a Person. It is not an absence of external “tribulation,” which is inevitable in this world. But it is a quiet confidence in the Christ who has overcome the world and now invites us to live in Him. It is an awareness that worldly wars are temporary, while His peace is eternal. The peace of Christ is not a pause between storms, but a permanent state of mind even in the midst of storms. True peace is found only in the Person of Christ Jesus. Only those who abide in Christ know this peace “that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).
The abiding life begins with salvation, yet here in John 15, Jesus is speaking of the abundant life that becomes evident as we continue to abide in Him. We understand that our salvation is accomplished by Christ and by no effort of our own. Yet, after receiving this salvation through faith, we often attempt to live the Christian life by our own self-effort. But just as we are saved by grace through faith, so shall we continue to live by “abiding” in God’s grace through faith. Wherever we are not exhibiting love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, in that very place we are not abiding in Christ. Abiding, we rest in Christ, drawing on His life-giving power and presence even in the midst of life’s storms. We are not called to imitate Christ, but to abide in Him, so that His life is manifest in ours.
The peace that Jesus offers is not only a cessation of hostilities between times of war, but a sense of well-being in our souls that is a down payment on its future completion in all creation. Jesus had the Hebrew idea of peace in mind, which is called “shalom.” According to Strong’s Concordance, the word shalom means “completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” Jesus doesn’t offer this peace as the world does. His peace is perfect and eternal. Those that receive His peace have put away worry and fear.
Our greatest apologetic is that we love one another. Intellectual arguments for creation, philosophical proofs for truth, and existential equations of reason are all helpful. But our most powerful persuasion is love. Seeing that we love one another as Jesus loved us, “all will know” that we are disciples of Christ.
The longest chapter in the Bible and the one found near its very center is Psalm 119. It seems appropriate that the longest psalm in the Bible would be written as a meditation on God’s Word. Divided into 22 stanzas, it is an extended acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet (Our word “alphabet” comes from the first two Hebrew letters: “aleph” + “beth”). In verse two, the psalmist wrote that the one who not only “keeps” the Word, but also “seeks” its Author will be “blessed.” In this verse, the psalmist refers to Scripture as “His testimonies.” As you read this psalm, how many synonyms can you find for God’s Word. As you number them, consider how you might keep them and seek the Father’s face as you do.
Certain Greeks came to Jerusalem during the feast and they asked to see Jesus. No mention of whether they received an audience with Jesus is given, but one thing is sure. Jesus would invite not only those Greeks, but people from every nation and tribe to Himself by removing the wall of separation between them and the Father. He had already cleansed the Court of the Gentiles on Monday of that week. By Friday, He gave His life in payment for humanity’s sins, removing both the wall of separation and rent the veil of the law. Now everyone, whether Jew or Greek, can boldly approach the throne of God in the Name of Jesus. Jesus paid the price, so that those who “wished to see” Him, could.
When David and his 600 men returned to their town of Ziklag, they found it burning and their families taken captive by the Amalekites. They were so distraught that they spoke of stoning David. What do you do in times of trial or when others turn against you? Where do you turn for help? David turned to the Lord. He knew how to encourage himself in God. Do you know this spiritual discipline? Instead of medicating the pain or commiserating with others, David sought help from the Lord and found it.
The One who had said, “Let there be light,” now entered into His fallen creation, speaking resurrection life to those dead in their sins. He called to “Lazarus” specifically because otherwise every dead body on planet earth would have burst forth from the grave at His command, “Come forth!” This One speaking was none other than the Word of God made flesh. The same Word that was in the beginning with God and was God. The same Word that brought all things into being, now commanded Lazarus to rise. Some day, the Word will return with the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Arise, My love!” And the dead in Christ shall rise and those living will be changed. Do you believe this?